The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-07-02

J deavOr to give proof of his graft
tude for kindness received fron
the Captain of a British vessel.
"When was a young man." con
tinued the Bey, "before l was mar
ried, / went on a pilgrimage t
Mecca. On my return l embarke,
from Alexandria on a Turkish YES
sci bound to COnstantinople. w
encountered a heavy gale; the YES
sci was old and rotten; leaks wer,
sprung, and the Captain, crew ant
myself, who was the only passenger
had barely time to get into th'
ships boat when the vessel sunk
l lost ell my clothes and money
with the exception of a few piasters
We expected every moment the
boat would be swamped by tn.
heavy seas breaking around us
when ship hove in sight. Sig
nails of distress were made and she
came to our assistance, and We
were all taken safely on board
She proved to be an English vessel
bound for Salonica. The Captain
a kind-hearted but rough-lookine
sailor, gave us dry clothes and
dressed me in n warm suit o1
his own, and supplied US with
food.
awe arrived at Salonica and
was enabled through the Pratique
master, who understood a little
English, to express my gratitude.
| offered to pay for my passage and
food. The Captain was indignant
and said he would not accept a
farthing, but on the contrary, hav-
ing learned that l had no money
to continue my voyage, and had
no friends at SalOnica, put small
sum into my hands which would
enable me to proceed to CONSTANT
nOple.
"YOu," he continued, "are the
first Englishman to whom | have
had an opportunity Of showing
feelings of gratitude long pent-up
to your countryman who saved my
life"
then told him that l was one
Of the secretaries of the British En-
bassy at Constantinople and what
had been the object of my visit to
-. / said l should make known
TO the "grcat Ilchcc" his hospital
ity and kindness. He again i'm
pressed upon me his anxious wish
that / should keep my reception
in his household a secret, and above
all the fact that had been waited on
by his daughtcrs-for he said it
would be serious matter if this was
known to his corcligionists, but he
consented that | should let the
Ambassador know confidentially
all that had happened; but to my
Turkish friends at COnstantinople
l should mention only that and
my servants had received shelter
for the night in his farm yard. He
also requested me not to tell the
Greek | had seen any women in
the house.
At sunrise next day l was up,
and going into the courtyard gave
instructions to my servant to have
the horses ready for start as soon
as l had breakfasted. lie informed
me that he had been we'll taken
care of. / gave the Greek several
gold piasters, which / directed
should be distributed among the
dependents of the Bey. He in
formed me that he had learned
from the old gatekeeper the Beg
had only one wife and no other in
mates of the harem except his two
daughters and some black slaves.
A good breakfast was ready for
me as soon l re-entered the house,
and again the pretty damsels
waited on me without the presence
of their father; and though l had
lost my heart lit WAS an easy mat
ter in those days) to the blue-eyed
little maiden, refrained from say
ing more than expressions of thanks
in the most polite Turkish, keep
ing steadfastly in mind that an
+" English gentleman is an honora-
BILE man."
On going away the Bey accom-
panied me to the door, and while !
reiterated my warmest thanks, he
put into my hand q little sealed
packet, observing: "You will
pardon me for returning the hand
some baksheesh you had directed
the Greek to distribute among my
The latter have made
known and returned to me what
they had received; / shall reward
them. but / cannot allow that you
should do 40. Itwould have given
me-" he added, "great pain if they
had retained the money, and 1t
would have deprived me of the
pleasure and satisfaction | have
felt in welcoming an Englishman
to my house." l said not word,
and put the money in my pocket.
As left the house l could not help
looking back as long as the lattice
windows were in sight, and thought